Serogroup W invasive meningococcal disease outbreak in Qatar following travel to Umrah

IF 4 3区医学 Q1 INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Journal of Infection and Public Health Pub Date : 2025-08-28 DOI:10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102945

Fatma Ben Abid , Ajithkumar Valooparambil Ittaman , Emad Basheir Ibrahim , Walid Al-Wali , Manal Mahmoud Mohamed Hamed , Amal Abdellatif , Masautso Chaponda , Mohammad Jamil Khatatneh , Alaa Hassan , Hamad Eid H.R. Al-Romaihi , Clement Kin-Ming Tsui , Hamad Abdel Hadi , Muna Al Maslamani

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in all age groups. Globally, reported cases predominantly belong to serogroups A, B, and C. Although serogroup W is less prevalent with regional distribution, it demonstrates shifting epidemiology linked to travel. Recently, multiple sporadic cases of serogroup W invasive disease were reported from Western countries following travel to the Middle East. In this case series, we describe a group of three unlinked cases of IMD within one week. Affected patients aged 8 months, 39 years, and 67 years and were all linked to recent travel to Umrah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) with no recent vaccination in the two cases. Despite early management, there were two fatalities. By reporting these cases, we aim to raise awareness to urge public health authorities and policy makers to impose meningococcal vaccine prior to Umrah along with stringent infection control measures.

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前往朝觐后卡塔尔爆发血清W群侵袭性脑膜炎球菌病

在所有年龄组中，侵袭性脑膜炎球菌病（IMD）与显著的发病率和死亡率相关。在全球范围内，报告的病例主要属于血清组A、B和c。尽管血清组W在区域分布中不太普遍，但它表明与旅行有关的流行病学正在发生变化。最近，西方国家在前往中东旅行后报告了多例血清W群侵袭性疾病的散发病例。在这个病例系列中，我们描述了一组三个不相关的IMD病例在一周内。受影响患者年龄分别为8个月、39岁和67岁，均与近期前往沙特阿拉伯王国（KSA）的朝觐旅行有关，两例患者近期未接种疫苗。尽管进行了早期治疗，但仍有两人死亡。通过报告这些病例，我们旨在提高认识，敦促公共卫生当局和决策者在朝觐前接种脑膜炎球菌疫苗，同时采取严格的感染控制措施。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Infection and Public Health PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH -INFECTIOUS DISEASES

CiteScore

13.10

自引率

1.50%

发文量

203

审稿时长

96 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of Infection and Public Health, first official journal of the Saudi Arabian Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences and the Saudi Association for Public Health, aims to be the foremost scientific, peer-reviewed journal encompassing infection prevention and control, microbiology, infectious diseases, public health and the application of healthcare epidemiology to the evaluation of health outcomes. The point of view of the journal is that infection and public health are closely intertwined and that advances in one area will have positive consequences on the other. The journal will be useful to all health professionals who are partners in the management of patients with communicable diseases, keeping them up to date. The journal is proud to have an international and diverse editorial board that will assist and facilitate the publication of articles that reflect a global view on infection control and public health, as well as emphasizing our focus on supporting the needs of public health practitioners. It is our aim to improve healthcare by reducing risk of infection and related adverse outcomes by critical review, selection, and dissemination of new and relevant information in the field of infection control, public health and infectious diseases in all healthcare settings and the community.